How to Clean a Grill in Three Steps

This natural and non-toxic grill cleaner produced by food journalist, Kate Kordsmeier of Root + Revel, is a must during summer! Homemade grill cleaner is not only safer and cheaper, but also makes a perfect Father’s Day gift. You just need four natural ingredients (no harmful ammonia) to clean your grill grates, improve taste, reduce gas expenses and prevent rust!

You’ll need:

1 Tbsp. Baking soda

1 Tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

1 Tbsp. Cleaning vinegar (can substitute distilled white vinegar)

1 ball Aluminum foil, or grill brush if preferred)

2 Tbsp. Sprouts Avocado Oil Spray

Instructions:

Fill a shallow tin (I recommend an aluminum baking tin) with boiling water and stick it in the lit grill. Close the lid and let steam for 10 minutes to loosen any dirt, grime and stuck on food. Remove water pan and turn off heat when ready to clean.

Meanwhile, combine baking soda and Sal Suds with 12 ounces of warm water. Pour into a glass bottle fitted with a sprayer and add vinegar. Gently swirl to combine. Spray cleaning mixture onto grill to thoroughly coat the grates. Ball up aluminum foil until it’s the size of a baseball and scour the grill to clean. If you prefer a grill brush, that works great too.

Once the grill is clean, spray avocado oil onto a paper towel and give your grill a quick wipe over to stop it from rusting and season it for future use.

Meet Our Food Blogger

Kate Kordsmeier is a food journalist and restaurant reporter turned real food expert after her own chronic health issues (PCOS, Hypothyroidism + IBS/Leaky Gut) catapulted her into a long journey of trying to heal her body naturally. Today, she blogs full-time over at Root + Revel, a natural living site helping people strike the balance between good and good for you.

Still searching for a last minute Father’s Day gift? Check out these DIY gift baskets your dad will love!

Father’s Day is coming up fast, and you may still be looking for the perfect gift for dad. A gift basket personalized just for him is a great, practical gift any dad would be excited to receive. Get some inspiration from these easy, DIY gift basket ideas created by our friends at Fresh Mommy Blog; Food, Pleasure & Health; and Root + Revel!

While dads might not purchase pampering items for themselves, it doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy a manly pampering gift basket, or a “man-pering” basket! Impress dad with natural products that smell incredible and give him the gift of taking his morning routine up to the next level.

Supplies:

From the grocery section:

Lucky Jack and Sumptown Cold Brew Coffee

Tillamook Country Smoker Beef Jerky

From the body care section:

Cologne – Dusk by Herban Cowboy

Aftershave – Dusk by Herban Cowboy

Beard Oil – Bull Dog

Soap –The Grandpa Soap Pine Bar

Razor – Every Man Jack

Deodorant – Dusk by Herban Cowboy

Body brush or natural sponge – Bass Brushes

From a craft store:

Bucket

Instructions:

Start with a color theme! Choosing a color theme really completes the overall look of the gift. While browsing the bath and personal care aisles of Sprouts, the masculine, neutral color theme of black and brown popped, not only because so many of the men’s products fell into this color range, but I truly loved the packaging and the scents.

Gather any items that would make dad feel special, and don’t forget the little touches that he might not purchase for himself. A cologne is a top gift for dads, as well as shaving products. Add some soap and deodorant, as well as a body scrubber, to complete his pampering routine.

Next, it’s time to add a few extra treats. I stuck with a masculine theme, and our color scheme as well, and went for beef jerky.

Don’t forget something to drink! What does the dad in your life love to drink? You could find a good beer, and I love that Sprouts stocks their beer section with local brews, so there’s always something new to discover. Is dad a coffee drinker? There are some amazing cold brew available, too. Whatever you choose, try and stick with the color theme.

Choose an unexpected container to use as a gift basket! A tool box or wooden tool chest, a cooler or an ice bucket… the list goes on and on. A great container is like a gift in itself.

Once you’ve settled on a container, load it up with the goods and some shredded paper, which helps with the natural masculine feel, keeping in mind height and placement.

This Father’s Day, instead of picking just one gift for your mindful man, how about putting together a fun collection of delicious, yet healthy, foods and practical personal care products that he is bound to love?

Supplies:

From the grocery section:

Hope Foods Buffalo Blue Hummus

Sprouts Organic Blue Corn Chips

Surf Sweets Organic Candy

Sprouts Organic Pink Salt Popcorn with Coconut Oil

Sprouts Organic Salt + Vinegar Chips

Sprouts Organic Teriyaki Beef Jerky

Sprouts Thai Chili Beef Jerky

Wild Tonic Blackberry Mint Jun Kombucha

La Colombe Draft Latte in Vanilla and Mocha

From the body care section:

Dr. Bronner’s Shaving soap

EveryOne soap for Every Man

EO Lotion for Men

Badger Anti-Bug Balm

Badger Beard Oil

Sprouts Salt Stone Deodorant

Gaia Herbs Male Libido Supplement

Instructions:

Rather than using a girly gift basket that the Father in your life will likely toss or forget about entirely, wrap all these healthy goodies up in something they’ll actually use. I opted for a veggie grill wok because what dad doesn’t love to grill?

Need a last minute Mother’s Day gift? Look no further than these DIY gift baskets your mom will love!
Mother’s Day is just around the corner and you may be rushing to find the perfect gift for mom. A gift basket made by you is a thoughtful, practical and personalized gift that any mother in your life will cherish. Check out these easy, DIY gift basket ideas created by our friends at Fresh Mommy Blog; Food, Pleasure & Health; and One Lovely Life!

Instructions:

Start with a color theme! While browsing the bath and beauty aisles of Sprouts, I landed on the theme of blush and vanilla. The Nubian Heritage bottles were pretty, and the perfect start to our themed basket. The product also smelled fantastic!

Gather any items that would make bath-time a pampering and relaxing experience. In keeping with the vanilla theme, the Tru Mélange candle fit right in. The pumice stone and brush combo matched, and so did the oatmeal soap.

Next, it was time to add a few extra treats. Chocolates are definitely part of a pampering experience, and I picked up a couple containers of various chocolates to put in mason jars to add to the look and feel of the gift basket. You could use goodie bags, add ribbon, tags, etc.

Don’t forget something to drink! Mom’s favorite tea, coffee or wine makes a great pairing for a night of pampering. Rosé is not only a top choice, it’s also a beautiful one! This bottle of Gérard Bertrand Coté des Roses was stunning and I knew the bottle could even be reused later.

Grab a beautiful bouquet to top off the basket, and you’re ready to go!

Using towels, wash cloths or even a robe, begin to build the ultimate pampering basket by layering the items so each is visible and compliments the others.

Instructions:

Recycling is what happens when you put things in the recycle bin at home or work. These items (paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, etc.) are broken down and recycled into other similar-type products. Upcycling though, is taking something you might put in the recycle bin and turning it into something different—that generally is of greater value than the original object. These DIY upcycled terrariums definitely add value!

DIY Upcycle Terrarium:

Supplies needed:

Empty, upcycled glass jars

Gloves (optional)

Potting soil

Funnel

Long brush

Scoop

Dish soap

Vinegar

Cleaning sponge

Instructions:

Begin by removing labels from empty glass jars: Soak them in warm water with equal parts of dish soap and vinegar.

Carefully peel off the label and scrub the outside of the jar removing any label residue.

Once the glass jar is dry, fill it a quarter of the way with potting soil. (Using a funnel will help when scooping the potting soil into the jar.)

Once potting soil has been added, use the long brush to clean the inside edges of the glass, removing soil from the sides of the bottle. This will help ensure that the plant remains clean when added to the jar.

After adding the potting soil, hold glass jar at a 45-degree angle so that soil falls to one corner of the jar, leaving the opposite side open

Carefully add your fern or plant to the jar. Using chopsticks, maneuver the plant so that its roots rest on the bottom of the jar—in the space on the opposite side of the soil.

Once plant is placed, carefully fill the gap at the bottom with the soil so that the roots of the plant are covered and the plant sits up once you bring the bottle to a fully upright position again.

Again, using the long brush, brush the sides of the glass bottle cleaning the dirt from the edges.

Finally, decorate the jar with twine and a tag then place terrarium in an area with sufficient sunlight but avoid direct sun.

Add a small amount of water when soil is try but be sure not to over water the plant.

Whether you’re making fresh squeezed orange juice for brunch or snacking on flavorful citrus, save those peels to create colorful and easy bird seed feeders! Upcycling citrus peels is friendly to the environment and adds a fun pop of color to your yard—plus, it’s fun to bird watch straight from your backyard. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Citrus Bird Seed Feeder:

Citrus, like a large navel orange, halved with flesh scooped out

String, like twine

Toothpicks

DIY bird seed (see step 6 for recipe)

Instructions:

Cut two pieces of string, each about 12-inches long.

Tie a knot at the end of each piece of

Using a toothpick, weave one piece of string through the citrus (from the inside out) until you reach the knot, trimming any excess string.

Take the loose end of the string you just threaded through the citrus and, directly across from the first hole, weave string through from the outside, knotting it on the inside.

Easter is just around the corner which means big brunches followed by candy-filled Easter baskets. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a few sweet treats, why not fill it with healthier alternatives such as fruits and dark chocolate? Keep reading to learn how to build a better basket for your little ones.

Cracker Carrots

What better way to fill a basket than with one of the Easter bunny’s favorites—carrots? This snack won’t cause a sugar crash and you’ll feel great knowing these goodies are made with whole wheat and real cheese. Grab some cone-shaped plastic bags and fill with Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies. Tie with a bright green ribbon and you’ve got a treat that every bunny will love.

Bunny Apple Bags

These adorable bunnies make a healthy addition to an Easter basket or a great centerpiece for brunch. To make the bunnies you’ll need paper bags, colorful washi tape, cotton balls and ribbon. Start by cutting the edges of a paper bag so each side is open. Cut a few inches off the top of the bag, then create bunny ears, stopping about a third of the way down the bag. Place the apple inside the bag and tie the top together with ribbon. Use the washi tape to create a small triangle for the nose and tape a cotton ball on the other side for the tail. Watch as guests and kids go crazy for these charming little bunnies.

Shop Bulk

It’s easy to scoop up small amounts of sweets when shopping in the Bulk Department. Use smaller plastic eggs to pre-portion the sugary treats such as gummies or chocolate. Trail mix, dried fruit, yogurt covered pretzels or dark chocolate-covered nuts make a healthy treat that the kiddos will love hunting for.
Add little extras such as nut butter packs, small fruits or chocolate milk that make a healthy surprise. Baskets don’t need to be filled with just sweet treats and snacks, either. Bubble bath, lip balm, sidewalk chalk or jump rope are fun additions that will leave your little one hopping with joy!

Need spring cleaning inspiration?

Many products we use to clean our homes have harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our children and pets. Revamp your cleaning routine with these natural DIY cleaning products from our friends at Fresh Mommy Blog, Recipes to Nourish and Root + Revel! These homemade natural cleaners are created with ingredients from Sprouts that are natural and chemical-free. And the best part is, you may already have some of the items in your home.

This DIY glass and stainless steel cleaner is streak-free with the addition of a simple surprise ingredient. It’s natural, chemical-free and easy to make with items you probably already have around the house!

Ingredients:

Glass bottle in a 16 oz. size at least (stainless steel is also safe.)

Looking for a safe and non-toxic way to clean your bathroom? This DIY Toilet Cleaner recipe is a natural and effective way to clean and deodorize your toilet. To make fizzy homemade toilet bombs, pods or tablets, all you need is five natural ingredients for a deep cleaning you won’t believe (no scrubbing required)!

Ingredients:

1 cup Sprouts Baking Soda

1/4 cup Citric acid

1 Tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

1 tsp. Hydrogen peroxide

25 drops Essential oils (I recommend peppermint)

Instructions:

In a large glass bowl, whisk baking soda and citric acid together until blended.

Very slowly, add Sal Suds, hydrogen peroxide and essential oils, mixing slowly as you go to ensure you don’t activate the dry ingredients. The mixture should be dry enough that you can mold it into balls, but wet enough that it doesn’t fall apart.

Fill a silicone mold with cleaning mixture, or you can form small balls (about the size of golf balls) with your hands and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper to avoid sticking.

Allow the toilet bombs to air dry about 6–8 hours or overnight.

Transfer to a glass jar and store in the bathroom.

Notes: I place these in the bowl of my toilet every 5–10 flushes to keep the toilet bowl clean and smelling great!

It’s so easy to make your own DIY refrigerator cleaner with three common ingredients. This lemon-herb vinegar mixture is money-saving, chemical-free and very effective for cleaning.

Ingredients:

To Make the Lemon-Herb Vinegar

4 cups Sprouts Organic Distilled White Vinegar

5 Lemon peels – yellow rind and white pith only, not the inside flesh

1 lg. sprig Fresh rosemary or thyme

1 quart or ½ gallon Mason jar with lid

To Make the Refrigerator Cleaner

1 cup Lemon-herb vinegar

1 cup Water, very hot

1 Dish sponge or cloth rag

1 Spray bottle – preferably glass OR large glass bowl

Instructions:

To Make the Lemon-Herb Vinegar

Add the lemon peels and rosemary or thyme to a ½ gallon (8-cup) Mason jar.

Pour 4 cups of vinegar over the lemon peels and herbs, making sure they are covered and submerged.

Cover with a lid and let sit on the counter, out of direct sunlight, for 1 week or up to 2 weeks.

Strain the lemon-herb vinegar through a fine-mesh strainer into a quart (4-cup) Mason jar.

To Clean the Refrigerator

Add the lemon-herb vinegar and hot water to a spray bottle or a large glass bowl.

If using a spray bottle, spray the mixture onto all refrigerator surfaces like the walls, drawers and shelves and use a dish sponge or cloth rag to wipe down and clean the surfaces.

If using a glass bowl, soak and ring out a dish sponge or cloth rag in the lemon-herb vinegar water solution and wipe down and clean all of the refrigerator surfaces.

Repeat steps as needed until the inside of the refrigerator is clean.

Notes:

Advance preparation is required.

Yield: 1-quart lemon-herb vinegar

Storage: Can be stored in a covered glass container for up to a year.

Uses: Save leftover mixture for weekly refrigerator spot-treatment maintenance or for monthly deep-cleaning. Alternatively, you can add the remaining lemon-herb vinegar to a spray bottle with filtered water using a 1:1 ratio and use as an all-purpose natural cleaner for cleaning most surfaces. [Note: Vinegar is known to kill up to 80 percent of bacteria, mold and most germs.]

Tip: If you have some stubborn spills in your refrigerator you can sprinkle a little baking soda over the stubborn spill and do a light spray of the cleaning mixture, then put a little elbow grease into it. Baking soda is one of the best natural cleaners when you need something a bit more abrasive.

How to Clean Your Makeup Brush without Harsh Chemicals by Root + Revel

Say goodbye to toxic chemicals and expensive store-bought products. For this DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner, you only need three ingredients to create an easy and effective homemade solution.

Ingredients:

1 oz. Sprouts Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 oz. Lavender castile soap

6 drops Organic tea tree oil

Instructions:

In a second glass or bowl filled with clean water, swirl the coated brush until rinsed through. (You can go back and forth between the cleaning solution and the water as many times as you need to until the brush is completely clean and all color is gone. Sometimes it helps to rinse under the faucet, as well.)

When you’re done, simply pat the brush on a clean microfiber cloth and lay flat to dry. (I like to let my brushes dry overnight, but it usually takes about 6–8 hours to dry naturally.)

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with adorable pancake kabobs! Whether you’re celebrating with a morning treat or having breakfast for dinner, these kabobs by Birch Benders are easy to make and are a fun way to get the kiddos involved:

Video Description: Facebook Live with the founders of Birch Benders, Matt and Lizzi!

Cupid’s Arrow Pancake Kabobs:

Ingredients:

1 bag Birch Benders, original flavor; prepare according to package

Fresh blueberries

Fresh strawberries, tops cut off

Fresh clementines, peeled and separated

Wooden skewers

Instructions:

Heat a griddle or skillet to medium-high heat. The pan is hot enough when flecks of water sizzle off quickly after contact. Lightly grease the pan.

Combine Birch Benders Pancakes Mix following the recipe on the back of the bag and pour mixtures into a squeeze bottle.

Use the squeeze bottle to draw heart shapes onto the hot griddle. Cook until bubbles have formed and popped then cook on the other side for an additional minute.

Remove the pancakes from the pan and build skewers by placing two clementine slices, one strawberry, followed by four to six blueberries, and heart shaped pancake.

Homemade sugar scrubs are not only a great way to soften and nourish your skin, but they make great gifts too. Inspired by the classic treat, this DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sugar Scrub will make your Valentine’s Day a little sweeter—whether you’re sharing with a friend or keeping some for yourself!

Ingredients:

Directions:

Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together over low heat. Once chips have melted, remove chocolate from heat. Dip spoons into warm chocolate, place on a serving platter and sprinkle with treats from Sprouts’ Bulk Department.

Naturally Scented Play Dough

Ingredients:

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients in a large pot. Add water, oil and food coloring and stir over medium heat until mixture has a play-dough consistency. Remove dough from pot and place on wax paper to cool. Once cooled add desired essential oil scent and knead until incorporated. Divide play dough into even portions and seal in 4 ounce Mason jars.

Valentine’s Produce Stamps

Supplies:

Directions for Rose Stamp:

To begin, simply cut celery close to the bottom of the stock. Save end of celery stock and put aside remaining celery for snacking. Coat end of celery with red paint and press firmly onto cardstock for a natural, rose-shaped stamp.

Directions for Heart Stamp:

Begin by cutting potato in half. Insert a heart-shaped cookie cutter into the cut/flat end of the potato. With a knife cut into and around potato using the cookie cutter as your guide. Coat stamp with red paint and press firmly onto cardstock.